Haven't read it yet - I keep opening it at Borders and re-reading that first page - but everything you said seems to ring true from everything else I'm hearing about it from others who have. Oozes atmosphere, little in terms of actual resolution, and maybe that's the point.

Right now I'm in a stalemate in which book I'm going to read next - this, Pynchon's Against the Day, or Danielewski's Only Revolutions. I'm just not certain which kind of mindscrew I'm in the mood for.

Only Revolutions is intriguing as hell but painful to read. I never knew the simple physical act of turning a book every 8 pages could be so disorienting/distracting. One idea I was pondering was to find a friend (female if you're male, male if you're female), and then taking turns reading portions of the book to each other, as Sam or Haley. Clips of the audio on Danielewski's site are absolutely amazing, hearing it out loud changes the experience completely.

Between those choices I'd say read "The Road" first, and then tackle one of those beasts later.

Yeah. This one is on my list. They say it's his best. I just read a bit by David Kushner on McCarthy, talking about how he's slumming it out in New Mexico at some advanced physics lab, moving equipment around for them and soaking it all in. When I grow up, I want to be Cormac McCarthy.

I just read this a couple months ago and found it to be quite good. I didn't like All the Pretty Horses that much, but liked this one a lot. Then I read World War Z for more apocalyptic fun.

I think the book is getting a 90% on Metacritic because it's actually well written and it's an easy read. It's similar to Harry Potter in that they're pretty good books, and even kids can read them. The Road manages to walk that line, it's really well written and it's narrated by the father in the book with a simple, common style.

*edit* Though not saying kids should read this. Dear God no.

I'm also a fairly new parent, and I think that made the book have a much stronger emotional impact on me because of that.

You should probably proceed with caution Baba. There are parts that WILL break your heart.....unless, you know, you don't have a soul.

What I wouldn't give to see that line in a metacritic review of one of McCarthy's works.

I've been procrastinating this read, because every other book of his has been a fairly major mental undertaking and I'm just not sure I can deal. Especially in light of the above comments. Parenthood has similarly transformed me into a gutless, sentimental waste of a man.

I will get to it sooner or later, I'm sure.

QFT. For me too, I mean.

Amazing how that happens. Man, before I had kids I was f*cking metal.

Wow. Podunk=Jesus!

I still remember this book fondly... well, maybe that's the wrong word. It's stuck with me, although as I said, I still would have liked to see the more "expanded" version that went more into detail about the world and what was happening. Guess that's just the SF nerd inside me.

But then again, maybe that's why it is so successful. He doesn't need to spend any time explaining anything-- the world just IS. The entire book is boiled down to just the barest of bones.

I'd decided to actually pick this up (from an actual, tangible store) but they didn't have any copies left. They charged me $15 for a paperback of All the Pretty Horses.

Crap. I thought most paperbacks were still under $10.

You should learn it, man. That or some Chinese. Unless you plan on retiring soon.

Looks like Oprah loved this book so much, she made it her next Book Club Selection.

Or as I like to call her: Blowprah!

The good news is that an enormous paperback printing is on the way, so the book will available on the cheap! And also, Cormac McCarthy will be wearing a big sombrero made out of money.

The paperback is 20% off at Target today. Target is, of course, a fine Minnesota corporation.